Mysterious Carvings in the Attic – Erasable by Linda Yiannakis.

Linda Yiannakis is a speech-language pathologist who has loved helping children with reading and writing for over thirty years. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the University of South Florida. When she’s not at work, she can be found at home waiting on her dog and being bossed around by a Siamese cat. Linda lives in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with roadrunners and bobcats as some of her closest neighbors.

Could life be more unfair? Nine year old Ellie doesn’t think so. With her summer off to a terrible start, she stumbles across a mysterious carved chest in the attic. What she finds inside gives her the power to change her life exactly the way she wants it to be. But it’s not long before Ellie learns to be careful what she wishes for — and what she wishes gone.

Imaginative and original – a beautifully written tale that blends magic and realism. Young people will easily identify with the spirited young heroine, Ellie, as she tries to solve the problem areas in her family and school life with the help of a magic gift. The vivid descriptions and unexpected plot twists will keep young readers fully engaged. Just wonderful! K. Wilkins, Educational Consultant, UK

Nine year old Ellie is frustrated and unhappy about the many unfair things in her life. She soon discovers a secret which allows her to enter a world of possibilities to solve her problems, only to find out that life is a lot more complicated than she thought. Suspenseful and entertaining right up to the very end! Excellent book for dealing with the concepts of temptation, fear, redemption, and patience. Mary Kay Weeks, Instructional Consultant, IN

Three cheers for Linda Yiannakis! She understands how children feel and she draws them in right from the first page. Her prose is simple enough for children to follow the story and interesting enough to keep them turning the pages with her rich vocabulary, plot action and realistic characters. Young readers will identify with the emotions and actions of the main character and join in the fun wholeheartedly. A magical journey from beginning to end. Joan Lewis, Grade 3/4 teacher, CT